Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 1

 

Su Rong was awakened by the sound of stifled sobbing.  

 

  

 

Opening her eyes, she raised a hand to rub her temples. A sharp pain shot through her, making her hiss. It took her a moment to recall, she had hit her forehead. Judging by the throbbing, no one had tended to her injury yet.  

 

  

 

Lowering her hand, she struggled to sit up. Through the dilapidated doors and windows, she called out, “Yue wan, come in.”  

 

  

 

Yue wan, startled, immediately stifled her crying. She wiped her tears, pushed open the door, and stepped into the room. Her eyes were red and still watery, her expression pitiful. “Miss, you’re awake?”  

 

  

 

“Why are you crying? I just hit my head. Your young mistress has a strong fate. Even if no one treats me, I won’t die.”  

 

  

 

Yue wan couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears streamed down her face again. “That’s not it…”  

 

  

 

“Not what?”  

 

  

 

Using her sleeve to dry her tears, Yue wan choked out, “Something big happened in the capital. They’re saying the young master of the Duke Protector’s manor and the young prince of Rui’an got into a fight on the street over a woman. It’s all anyone can talk about. Sob… How could Young Master Zhou fight someone over a woman?”  

 

  

 

Su Rong was stunned. “So what if he did? Why are you crying? How does it concern you?”  

 

  

 

Yue wan froze, her fists clenched in anger. “Miss, Young Master Zhou is your fiancé!”  

 

  

 

Su Rong: “…”  

 

  

 

Oh, right. She had a fiancé, the young master of the Duke Protector’s manor, Zhou Gu. Her late mother had arranged the engagement for reasons unknown and had never explained before passing away.  

 

  

 

Su Rong, a mere concubine-born daughter of the magistrate of Jiangning, was inexplicably betrothed to the legitimate heir of a prestigious noble house. It was a match as far-fetched as it was baffling. When her mother told her about it, Su Rong had been too stunned to react for a good while. By the time she recovered enough to ask questions, her mother had already breathed her last.  

 

  

 

Coughing lightly, she asked out of curiosity, “Did he win?”  

 

  

 

Yue wan’s face fell. “He did.”  

 

  

 

Su Rong let out a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s good. If he couldn’t even win a fight over a woman, he’d be completely useless.”  

 

  

 

Yue wan’s eyes widened in shock. “Miss! Did you hit your head too hard? That’s your fiancé! You haven’t even married him yet, and he’s already causing such a scandal. Once you’re wed…”  

 

  

 

“Do you think this engagement will still hold?” Su Rong interrupted.  

 

  

 

Yue wan fell silent.  

 

  

 

Su Rong beckoned her over. “Help me up. I need to see a doctor immediately. If this leaves a scar, I’ll truly be unmarriageable.”  

 

  

 

Yue wan snapped out of it and rushed to support Su Rong. Her eyes reddened again as she said, “The madam said you’ve already summoned the doctor three times this month. At this rate, you’ll use up all the household’s silver. She also said that with your looks, you wouldn’t be able to marry into the Zhou family anyway. She might as well leave the scar, it might even improve your chances of becoming someone’s legitimate wife.”  

 

  

 

Standing before a cracked mirror, Su Rong examined the gash on her forehead. It was large and ghastly. Resolute, she declared, “Absolutely not. This face is my only asset. How can I leave it untreated? Even if I don’t marry Zhou Gu, I can still find a scholar to wed, can’t I?”  

 

  

 

Yue wan looked aggrieved. “Scholars are known to sell their wives for glory.”  

 

  

 

Su Rong, speechless, poked Yue wan on the forehead. “Have you been reading too many melodramatic tales? Why such resentment toward scholars?”  

 

  

 

Tears in her eyes, Yue wan muttered, “You’ve been unconscious for half a day. I begged the madam for hours, but she still refused to call a doctor.”  

 

  

 

“What about Father? He values my looks the most.”  

 

  

 

“The master is away on official business and won’t return for three days.”  

 

  

 

Su Rong stomped her foot. “Fine. Let’s go see the madam.”  

 

  

 

Ignoring her dizziness, Su Rong left the decrepit little house and courtyard. It took her the time of two incense sticks to reach the madam’s residence.  

 

  

 

Inside, the room was filled with laughter and chatter.  

 

  

 

Hearing it made Su Rong’s teeth ache. Standing outside, she called out, “Mother.”  

 

  

 

The laughter abruptly ceased.  

 

  

 

Satisfied, Su Rong pushed aside the curtain and stepped into the room. Seated in the central chair was the madam, surrounded by five or six young ladies, all around Su Rong’s age. Each was adorned in finery, their radiant appearances starkly contrasting with Su Rong’s disheveled state.  

 

  

 

Upon seeing Su Rong, none of them reacted. Their faces were indifferent, almost numb.  

 

  

 

Su Rong curtseyed but didn’t wait to be acknowledged before rising. Ignoring the others, she approached the madam and turned her head to show her forehead. “Mother, the Zhou family hasn’t annulled the engagement yet. Even if they do, if they see me with this face, they might still act on the betrothal out of obligation. The Duke Protector’s family is notorious for being ruthless, they could even argue with the emperor if it suited them. Are you sure you won’t call a doctor?”  

 

  

 

The madam, startled by the severity of Su Rong’s injury, momentarily froze. But as Su Rong’s words sank in, her face twisted with rage. “Are you threatening me with the Duke Protector’s family?”  

 

  

 

“I wouldn’t dare,” Su Rong replied earnestly. “I’m merely saying that whether I end up as a proper wife or a concubine, I need this face intact.”  

 

  

 

The madam’s anger flared, and she pointed a trembling finger at Su Rong. “This month alone, you’ve summoned a doctor three times! If you enjoy fighting so much, then stop getting hurt! Last time, you injured your leg, and the doctor’s fees cost a hundred taels. Before that, you sprained your arm and needed expensive medicine for half a month, another hundred taels. And now, your face? Do you have any idea how much it’ll cost to ensure it heals without a scar? You’d need Jade Essence Balm. Do you know how much that costs? A thousand taels for a single jar!”  

 

  

 

Su Rong looked abashed. “You prepared a dowry for me…”  

 

The matriarch grew even angrier. “Half of the dowry I prepared for you has already been squandered, and now you have the audacity to bring it up again?” 

 

Su Rong muttered softly, “I can go to the wedding alone without it.” 

 

The matriarch nearly fainted from rage. “A bride going to her wedding alone? That’s unheard of! Are you trying to turn our Taishou Mansion into a laughingstock? Get out of my sight!” 

 

Su Rong didn’t move. “Mother, I must get my face treated.” 

 

The First Madam glared at her in fury. “Someone, drag her out for me!” 

 

Su Rong turned around to face the maids and older women standing at the door, ready to rush in. With just one sharp glance, they all took a step back, none daring to come forward. 

 

The seventh daughter wasn’t afraid of a fight, no matter who the opponent was. From her frail arms and legs at the age of three or five to her current almost-coming-of-age self, she had been fighting for years, getting better and more ruthless with time. Even the young master of the Duyi Mansion got beaten up by her this morning. Her forehead might be injured, but the young master from Duyi Mansion was practically unrecognizable, his face swollen like a pig’s. No one in the house dared provoke her, let alone the servants. 

 

The matriarch was used to such scenes but still clutched her chest in anger, trembling as she pointed at Su Rong. “You’re determined to infuriate me, aren’t you? Do you want me dead to feel satisfied?” 

 

“How could I?” Su Rong turned back, shaking her head and sincerely saying, “Mother, you must live a long life. If not for your legendary reputation for being so formidable, even the wife of the Duyi Commander is afraid of you, I wouldn’t dare beat up her son.” 

 

The First Madam almost fainted from rage again. 

 

“Mother, call the doctor. Use my dowry if needed. Get my face treated and have them check your pulse too. I think your health has been declining lately. You’re more easily agitated and far less composed than you used to be,” Su Rong said as she sat down, taking control of the situation. She turned to the maids at the door. “What are you waiting for? Go fetch the doctor! Get the best one from Huichun Hall and make sure they bring a bottle of Cream of Jade Satin.” 

 

The maids and older women at the door looked toward the matriarch. 

 

Clutching her chest, the matriarch’s face darkened. After a long silence, she finally spat out one word: “Get out!” 

 

 

The servants understood. They all hurried out, and one quickly rushed to Huichun Hall to fetch the doctor. 

 

Su Rong smiled in satisfaction and reached for the matriarch’s hand. “Mother, calm down. That scoundrel from Chen Prefecture dared harass me. If I didn’t teach him a lesson, he’d think our Taishou Mansion is an easy target.” 

 

The matriarch pulled her hand away. “How many fights have you been in over the years? I’ve been cleaning up after you, using money to settle disputes and ensuring rumors don’t spread, just so you could have the reputation you enjoy today. But now you’ve crossed the line! Why did you have to provoke Chen Zhou? Even though the Chen family branch he belongs to is minor, they come from the capital’s influential lineage. Do you think this won’t get back to the capital? How many times have I told you that a lady’s reputation is everything? You just don’t listen! Do you think the Hu State Duke’s family would still want someone as troublemaking and belligerent as you?” 

 

“Mother, hasn’t the rumor already spread that Young Master Zhou and the Little Prince of Rui’an Mansion fought over a woman? If they have troublemakers in their families, why should they look down on me?” Su Rong said nonchalantly. “Besides, I think this engagement is bound to fall through sooner or later. Stop dreaming about climbing up the social ladder. We can’t reach that high.” 

 

The matriarch: “…” 

 

That kind of self-awareness was enough to make her feel like she was having a heart attack. 

 

She glared at Su Rong, her expression full of frustration. “You’ve wasted your good looks, completely wasted them!” 

 

She continued to scold, “The most favored Concubine Zhen in the palace relies on her beauty. You cherish your face so much, but why can’t you use it to climb up the social ladder? If you could, would we still be stuck in this backwater town of Jiangning?” 

 

Su Rong rubbed her ears, sighing. “But Concubine Zhen has no children. Even though she’s highly favored, isn’t she pitiful in her own way?” 

 

The First Madam covered her mouth with her hand. “Are you insane? How dare you say something like that? Do you have a death wish? Shut your mouth immediately! If you say that again, I’ll beat you to death!” 

 

She turned and glared sharply at everyone in the room. “Forget everything she just said. Do you hear me? If anyone dares to spread a word, I’ll beat you myself!” 

 

The other young ladies in the room nodded numbly, agreeing, “We understand, Mother. We’ve already forgotten.” 

 

It wasn’t that they lacked other expressions, it was just that they had grown used to hearing such words from their younger sister. Every time, the matriarch would issue the same warnings. 

 

The matriarch finally let go, still fuming. Concubine Zhen lived in luxurious splendor, adorned in silks and jewels, commanding power and influence. To call her pitiful was sheer nonsense. Her heart ached from the stress as she pushed Su Rong away in disgust. “Get out of my sight.”